Bid to resolve walk-out

Press, 21 June 1980, Page 3

Bid to resolve walk-out

PA Auckland A legal problem, not a personality problem, had to be resolved in the dispute which had caused the withdrawal of counsel for the police from the Thomas Commission of Inquiry’, said the Commissioner of Police (Mr R. J. Walton) yesterday.

He made the comment after a long meeting with the two lawyers involved, Mr J. S. Henry’, Q.C., and Mr R. L. Fisher, at their Auckland office.

Also at the meeting was the Minister of Justice (Mr McLay) and the Soli-citor-General (Mr D. P. Neazor).

Mr McLay declined to comment on the talks, saying that they were be-

tween the counsel and the Crown. But Mr Walton finally broke away from the meeting to make a brief statement, reiterating that the police wanted the commission to proceed with its hearing and that the police be represented. '•However, there are fundamental legal problems relating to the scope of the inquiry and this has led to the present position,” he said. “Steps are now being taken to try to resolve these matters as early as possible. I repeat these are legal problems and there is no question of the police running for cover. “They always have been prepared to have their actions closely examined.”